Advent

December 7, 2023

The Fifth Day of Advent

Today, I took one of my grandsons Christmas shopping.  This year we decided it would be a lot of fun for him to pick out something he really wanted, within reason, of course, a pre-Christmas gift.  When we arrived at the mall, we walked and walked and as we walked, all the things he thought he would like to have, as a Christmas present, changed, or were dropped from the list entirely, until there was no list at all, only the two of us walking the mall, looking in stores, and eating ice cream.  I was beginning to think the shopping trip was a complete failure when it happened.  He asked if we could go into the arcade.  He must have felt my hesitation, as these games, which any child can play, seem beyond my capability.  He took my hand and led me to the counter, where I heard myself purchasing a preloaded card.  Card in hand, he pulled me, from one piece of equipment to another.  It was not enough for him to play the arcade games alone, he insisted I play, with him.  Soon my trepidation gave way to play, playing with my grandson, as we banged and tilted and soared into the air, chasing mythical creatures, in pursuit of victory.  Wow!  What fun!  We left the arcade, promising each other another play date, and soon.  In the car, as we headed home, he asked me if there were computers back when I was a kid.  I laughed and replied, “No, we had paper and pencils.”  What I thought would be a day of gifts, I bought for him, turned into the day he gave me the gift of play, and joy, and memories.   

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          On this fifth day of Advent, 2023, the reading I have chosen is from Isaiah 9:2.

The Reading

December 6, 2023

 “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.” Isaiah 9:2